New Mexico Land Conservancy Conserving Land. Preserving Heritage

2013 Annual Report

Conserving Land. Preserving Heritage. 1 OUR MISSION

To preserve New Mexico’s land heritage by helping people conserve the places they love. Founded in 2002, the New Mexico Land Conservancy (NMLC) is a statewide, non-profit land trust working to protect significant natural habitat, productive agricultural lands, scenic open space, cultural and historic resources, and recreational lands for conservation purposes and public benefit at community, watershed and landscape scales. We work in collaboration with private landowners, community and non-profit organizations, governmental agencies, businesses, and other public and private partners to pursue and achieve our mission. NMLC’s twenty-five-year goal is to protect, directly or in partnership with others, one million acres of high conservation value lands in priority areas around the state by 2037. To date, NMLC has helped permanently protect over 127,000 acres of high conservation value land throughout New Mexico and completed one project in Arizona.

2 2 Cover Photo Courtesy of Clay Ellis Photo Courtesy of Mark Watson 3 4 Photo Courtesy of Mark Watson Dear Friends, Despite several changes on the board and staff, 2013 turned out to be a very good and productive year for the New Mexico Land Conservancy. In the following pages you will read about some of our conservation, education, outreach and fundraising highlights. But we also wanted to take this opportunity to tell you about a specific effort, for which we have been preparing ourselves for some time, that we believe will significantly enhance our operations and delivery of services as a statewide land trust. Despite all the good intentions of any organization’s staff, board and supporters, long-term success, viability and sustainability depends upon the organizational framework upon which it is built and run. NMLC is part of a larger movement that, over the last one hundred years, has grown into a community of 1,700 land trusts around the country. Today, most of the nation’s land trusts are affiliated with the Land Trust Alliance (LTA), an organization that was founded in 1982 to help increase the pace, quantity and quality of land conservation by strengthening the land trust movement across America. In 2007, LTA piloted a professional accreditation program for land trusts that was designed around an enhanced framework of ethical and technical standards and practices that it had first developed for land trusts twenty years earlier. This program is administered by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission (LTAC), which is an independent body of conservation professionals that recognizes land conservation organizations that demonstrate compliance with LTA’s “Standards and Practices.” We are pleased to announce that NMLC will be applying for accreditation by the LTAC in 2014. Accreditation is a mark of distinction in land conservation. To date, less than 15% of the land trusts in the U.S. have been accredited and we hope to successfully complete the process and join those ranks by early 2015. Our successful accreditation should help assure you as a landowner, donor, partner or member of the public that NMLC is worthy of your trust and support. It should also ensure you that we have the ways and means to continue protecting and stewarding those important natural places, cultural areas, working lands and scenic open spaces that need to be preserved forever because they are what make New Mexico so special.

Thank you,

J. Scott Wilber Joseph R. Montoya Executive Director Chair, Board of Directors 5 OUR GOALS

NMLC’s strategic framework is comprised of three primary goals:

CONSERVATION Sustainable land conservation for New Mexico • To strategically increase the quantity and quality of land conservation in New Mexico. • To ensure that these conserved lands receive appropriate and sustained stewardship over the long-term.

EDUCATION Increased awareness of and appreciation for land conservation in New Mexico • To increase understanding of and awareness about land conservation methods and benefits. • To raise general public awareness of and appreciation for conservation in New Mexico.

CAPACITY Greater capacity for land conservation in New Mexico • To build NMLC into a viable and sustainable statewide land trust. • To help increase statewide capacity and support for land conservation. • To contribute to a collaborative and sustainable land conservation community for New Mexico.

Photo Courtesy of Mark Watson OUR PROGRAMS

We work to achieve our mission and goals through the following programs and activities:

CONSERVATION

• Land Protection: using conservation easements and other voluntary land conservation methods to help landowners protect, conserve (and restore) their land. • Stewardship: monitoring, stewarding and legally defending the easements and properties we have helped protect.

EDUCATION

• Information: serving as a statewide information resource, and providing information about land conservation and NMLC through different forms of media. • Communications & Outreach: educating landowners and partners about land conservation and stewardship tools, methods and benefits; informing and engaging the public, and creating opportunities to connect people to the land.

CAPACITY BUILDING • Organizational Development & Fundraising: developing human and financial resources, and internal plans, policies and organizational capacity; and ensuring compliance with non-profit and land trust standards, practices and requirements. • Policy: engaging in policy initiatives that further land conservation and stewardship in New Mexico. • Administrative: ensuring sound administrative systems and procedures for effective and efficient land trust operations.

7 TROUTSTALKER RANCH

Size: 287 acres Location: Rio Arriba County Ecoregion: Southern Rockies Conservation Values: Wildlife Habitat, Scenic Open Space, Recreation & Agriculture Type of Project: Donated Conservation Easement

n May of 2013, Dan Perry, the owner of Trout on the ranch. Mr. Perry is dedicated to improving I Stalker Ranch, approached NMLC about the the trout habitat along the Rio Chama and, working possibility of placing a portion of his 566 acre ranch with River Bend Engineering, completed an extensive under a conservation easement. Located within the habitat restoration project last summer along his reach scenic corridor of U.S. 84/64, eight miles south of the of the river. The entire riparian corridor is within Colorado border, this beautiful property is situated the conservation easement, as well as several seasonal along the Rio Chama, just south of the Village of ponds / impoundments and natural wetlands that occur Chama, and includes over a mile of both the Rio on spring seeps, providing unique habitat that rarely Chama and Rio Chamita. occurs below 8,000 feet in New Mexico. Working with NMLC, Mr. Perry elected to conserve The remainder of the ranch consists of piñon-juniper- 287 acres of irrigated farmland and critical habitat oak woodland, grassland and farm fields. The dry 8 meadows and old farmlands at Trout Stalker Ranch are approximately one mile of the Rio Chama. NMLC is good foraging habitats for large and small herbivores, proud to include this easement, with its rich and diverse and for raptors that hunt in open areas. The “bosque”, habitats and uses, in our conservation portfolio. or riparian woodlands, of the Rio Chama is especially suitable for nesting birds that utilize the cavities created Mr. Perry was referred to NMLC through the Chama in dead cottonwood trees. Owls, wrens, chickadees and Peak Land Alliance (CPLA), where he serves on the bluebirds depend on these cavity nests for reproductive Board of Directors. CPLA is a network of conservation- success. minded private landowners engaged in important conservation, natural resources management and This outstanding property will continue to be used for environmental policy work involving working ranches the traditional irrigated agricultural practice of hay and other large properties in northern New Mexico production. Additionally the conservation easement and southern Colorado. area includes a public access easement for fishing along

9 NORTHEAST NEW MEXICO CONSERVATION PLANNING

rowing out of NMLC’s work in the Hi Lo process executed by our consultant. The weighted G Country of northeast New Mexico, and the criteria consisted of prime and important soils, buffers recent projects to protect the Mesa and Wagon Mound to existing conservation land, hydrological and wetland ranches, NMLC embarked upon a conservation buffers, cultural resource buffers, habitat for threatened planning process for this part of the state in 2013. The and endangered species, rare plant habitat, critical fish goal of the effort is to identify particular landscapes in habitat and wildlife corridors. northeast New Mexico with high conservation value, and then to conduct outreach to landowners, agencies The analysis resulted in the mapping of a “conservation and community organizations in the region to share surface” for the Study Area. Landscapes that our conservation vision with them. were consequently highlighted as being of highest conservation value were adjacent to public lands in Working with a consultant from Unique Places the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, particularly in the Southwest, NMLC identified a study area that Cimarron, Mora, and Gallinas River watersheds; encompasses: the front range of the Sangre de Cristo portions of the I-25 highway corridor; lands around the Mountains, including Colfax, Mora, and San Miguel towns of Las Vegas, Watrous and along the Pecos River Counties; portions of Union, Harding, Quay, and near Villanueva; and ranchlands adjacent to the Kiowa Guadalupe Counties; and the Pecos, Gallina, Mora, National Grasslands in Harding and Union Counties. Canadian and Cimarron river watersheds. The study area includes important existing conservation areas This innovative planning work, which uses current such as the Las Vegas, Rio Mora and Maxwell National geographic information technology, was funded by Wildlife Refuges; the Fort Union and Capulin Volcano New Cycle Foundation and completed in consultation National Monuments; and the Kiowa National with Unique Places Southwest. The analysis has Grasslands. focused our ongoing efforts in northeast New Mexico and provides the underpinnings for our future outreach Our team determined the conservation criteria for the work in this region. analysis and ranked these criteria through a modeling MESA RANCH

MESA RANCH

Size: 2,050 acres Location: Colfax County Ecoregion: Southern Rockies Conservation Values: Agriculture, Wildlife Habitat & Scenic Open Space Type of Project: Donated Conservation Easement

he completion of the Mesa Ranch conservation The mixed gambel oak, ponderosa pine and Douglas fir T easement in December of 2013 was an exciting step in in the canyon provide habitat for turkey, bear, elk, deer NMLC’s progress towards landscape-scale conservation and other species of wildlife. in northeastern New Mexico. Located east of Raton, Mesa Ranch spills over the southern end of Johnson Higher up, on Johnson Mesa, native bunchgrasses Mesa into Taylor Canyon below and provides incredible dominate an expanse of shortgrass prairie that continues panoramic views of the Hi-Lo Country to the south. to support cattle and contribute to the local agricultural economy. NMLC was pleased to work with landowner Perhaps the most impressive feature on the property Jim Keller to complete the Mesa Ranch easement, and is Uña de Gato Creek, a perennial stream that runs we look forward to continued opportunities to protect through Taylor Canyon and attracts a wide variety of more of this unique and beautiful part of northeast New wildlife—including mountain lions, as the name in Mexico. Spanish suggests— with its year-round water source. 11 WAGON MOUND RANCH - PHASE TWO

Size: 7,154 acres Location: Mora County Ecoregion: Southwestern Tablelands Conservation Values: Agriculture, Wildlife Habitat & Scenic Open Space Type of Project: Purchased Conservation Easement

t the end of 2013, NMLC conserved an additional of the Canadian River. The landscape consists of A 7,154 acres of Greg Moore’s 23,000 acre family shortgrass prairie with some areas of piñon-juniper ranch east of Wagon Mound. This is the second of a forest and ponderosa pine at higher elevations on three phase project that will ultimately place the entire the mesa tops. The Property has been owned by ranch under conservation easements. In 2012, Greg the same family for two generations. The landowner Moore donated a conservation easement over 7,684 uses sustainable grazing practices and rotates cattle acres. The final phase is expected to be completed by between 20 different pastures on the ranch. He has the summer of 2014. also designated areas as wildlife sanctuaries and undertaken habitat improvement projects, particularly The ranch is located just south and east of Las Mesas along Carrizo Creek. de Conjelon and includes Carrizo Creek, a tributary

12 Over the past two years, NMLC was successful in securing $700,000 through the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP) to complete the final two phases. Additional support to help complete these easements was provided by the New OVER 100,000 Cycle and Albert I. Pierce foundations, which have both shown ongoing support for this project and ACRES OF other ranchland conservation work in northeastern PRODUCTIVE New Mexico. RANCHLAND

CONSERVED SINCE 2002

Photo Courtesy of Clay Ellis RITO SPRINGS RANCH

Size: 2,800 acres Location: Catron County Ecoregion: AZ/NM Mountains Conservation Values: Agriculture, Wildlife Habitat, & Scenic Open Space Type of Project: Purchased Conservation Easement

n April of 2013, NMLC completed an easement over With funding from the U.S. Natural Resources I 2,800 acres of Rito Springs Ranch, a rolling spread Conservation Service Farm and Ranchland Protection just north of Highway 60 near the town of Quemado Program, NMLC was able to permanently conserve a in Catron County. The grasslands and piñon-juniper significant portion of the ranch, thereby maintaining woodlands of this ranch have been worked by the same the native grassland’s agricultural potential and habitat family for generations and continue to be part of an values. The completion of the Rito Springs Ranch active cattle operation. The ranch also supports a conservation easement brings the total area of working variety of wildlife including elk, mule deer, pronghorn, grasslands, woodlands and forestlands protected by bobcat, coyote and mountain lion. NMLC in Catron County to over 9,800 acres.

14 CREEKY SPRINGS

Size: 288 acres Location: San Miguel County Ecoregion: Southern Rockies Conservation Values: Wildlife Habitat & Scenic Open Space Type of Project: Donated Conservation Easement

n June of 2013 NMLC completed an easement The property is bisected by Sebadilla Creek, a semi- I over 288 acres of land in the foothills of the perennial stream that feed a tributary of the Pecos Sangre de Cristo mountains adjacent to the Santa Fe River. The creek which supports an impressive stand National Forest in San Miguel County. This property, of willows, cottonwoods, and other wetland vegetation affectionately called “Creeky Springs” after an old that provides excellent habitat for numerous bird bedspring that was discovered in the creek, is owned by species, elk, bear, and other wildlife. Open meadows the Forest Trust, a nonprofit land trust based in Santa and mixed piñon-juniper-ponderosa pine forest round Fe. The Forest Trust holds a conservation easement over out the diversity of habitat on Creeky Springs. NMLC approximately 2,500 acres south of Creeky Springs, so was pleased to partner with Henry Carey and the with the completion of this new easement, NMLC and Forest Trust to conserve this special place. The Forest Trust have together permanently conserved a large buffer of land adjacent to the Santa Fe National Forest. 15 SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO: THE MIMBRES WATERSHED

Size: 1,010 acres Location: Grant & Luna Counties Ecoregion: Chihuahuan Desert RIVER

Conservation Values: Wildlife Habitat & Scenic Open Space RANCH Photo Courtesy of Mark Watson Type of Project: Facilitated Acquisition

ith generous funding from the Turner Foundation deer, javelina, turkey, and numerous species of raptors W and Element Power, NMLC continued to work and other birds, many of which are state and federally throughout 2013 on the development of two important listed. In 2010, we entered into an option agreement to conservation projects located at opposite ends of purchase a conservation easement over the entire 1,010 the Mimbres River watershed in southwestern New acres of this ranch and to subsequently sell the ranch to Mexico. a public agency. With funding from the New Mexico State Forestry Division we completed the purchase of a The River Ranch project is the continuation of an conservation easement over the ranch in 2011. effort that we started three years ago along the lower end of the Mimbres River near City of Rocks State In 2014, NMLC will work with the New Mexico Park. The River Ranch includes a two-mile stretch Department of Game & Fish to facilitate their of the Mimbres River which sustains a remarkable acquisition of the River Ranch, which will ultimately cottonwood and ash gallery forest and several hundred become a new wildlife management area for New acres of native Sacaton grassland that provide habitat for Mexico. 16 Size: 910 acres Location: Grant County ANCHETA AZ/NM Mountains Ecoregion: SPRINGS Photo Courtesy of Mark Watson Conservation Values: Wildlife Habitat & Scenic Open Space RANCH Type of Project: Donated Conservation Easement

he Ancheta Springs Ranch property comprises 910 cover the associated transactional and stewardship T acres in the foothills of the Mimbres Mountains costs, they will donate the conservation easement. northeast of San Lorenzo and consists of mixed piñon- juniper-oak woodland and desert scrubland that For the past two years we have been actively working provides habitat for a variety of wildlife, including elk, to secure funding for both of these projects. In early deer, turkey, javelina, and several species of raptors 2012, we were very excited to learn about a new source and other birds. The project involves working with of funding for restoration and land protection that the landowners to complete a conservation easement had come about as a result of a recent settlement over their entire property and then continue ongoing between the state, represented by the New Mexico restoration work along Ancheta Creek, approximately Office of Natural Resources Trustee (ONRT); the two miles of which runs through the property on its U.S. Department of Interior, represented by the U.S. way down to the Mimbres River. The landowners Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS); and the Freeport- have indicated that, if NMLC can obtain funding to McMoRan Corporation (FMC), an international

17 SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO & THE MIMBRES WATERSHED

mining company operating in southwestern New Department of Game & Fish, and the USFWS Mexico. Partners in Wildlife Program to develop and submit preliminary proposals for both the River Ranch and The settlement included $5,500,000 in funding for Ancheta Springs projects. In November 2013, we the restoration of wildlife and wildlife habitat, and learned that our collective efforts had paid off - of the the transfer to New Mexico State Parks of 715 acres of 21 projects submitted for consideration, seven priority conservation land adjacent to City of Rocks State Park, projects were identified for funding including both of located north of Deming in southwestern New Mexico. our projects. The purpose of the settlement was to offset injuries to wildlife and habitat resulting from the release of In a press release issued by ONRT and USFWS, New hazardous substances from FMC’s Chino, Tyrone and Mexico Natural Resources Trustee Ryan Flynn said, Cobre mine facilities in southwestern New Mexico. “We worked closely with stakeholders to identify these solutions. All of the projects evaluated were suggested As part of the process of preparing the required by stakeholders in involved in the restoration project environmental assessment and restoration plan, ONRT identification process. The projects will benefit our and USFWS solicited project ideas from local, state, wildlife resources in New Mexico far into the future.” and federal agencies; nonprofit organizations; and “These habitat restoration projects paid for with the private citizens. Proposed projects had to demonstrate settlement funds from Freeport McMoRan will benefit how they would either restore, rehabilitate, replace, or a wide range of wildlife,” added Benjamin Tuggle, acquire the equivalent of wildlife and wildlife habitat Southwest Regional Director for USFWS. “Working resources that were injured by the release of hazardous with the state and numerous stakeholders, we have substances from the three FMC mine facilities. been able to address past practices that damaged NMLC took advantage of this unique opportunity wildlife habitat, and are now moving to mitigate that and worked with the landowners, the New Mexico damage.” COMPLETED CONSERVATION PROJECTS 2002 - 2013 127,000 acres of significant wildlife habitat, productive agricultural land & scenic open space conserved

C ha ma River

Canadian

River

Mimbres River

Projects completed in 2013 Projects completed prior to 2013 NMLC Headquarters SPRING & FALL CELEBRATIONS OF LAND CONSERVATION

his spring, we celebrated Earth Day and agricultural years, they completely restored the house and then T land conservation with our good friends from the continued to add on additions through the late 1960s Village of Corrales. On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, to house the ever-increasing collection of artifacts. In we gathered with landowners, interested residents, 1997, the Albuquerque Museum acquired the San Ysidro Village staff and members of the Corrales Farmland collection through a combination of donation and Preservation Committee at the historic San Ysidro purchase, and then the Minges subsequently donated Church to talk about conservation easements, and the house and land, after placing the latter under a past and present farmland preservation efforts within conservation easement with NMLC and the Village Corrales. to ensure that the agricultural fields surrounding the house and forming part of the larger view shed for the Participants also had an opportunity to tour the Casa entire complex, including the church, would remain as San Ysidro across the street for a private viewing of scenic open space and could never be developed. the house and the Spanish colonial and New Mexican artifacts housed there. The “Casa,” which once belonged Many thanks to Sayre Gerhart for sponsoring the to descendants of Don Felipe Gutierrez (recipient of event, and to John Perea and his wife for providing the the Bernalillo Township Grant in 1704), was acquired delicious New Mexican buffet. by Ward and Shirley Minge in 1952. For the next two e ster n w a s t he t hem e f or N M L C ’s f a l l C el e br at ion address complex conservation issues. In recent years, W of Land Conservation in New Mexico, which Jim and NMLC partnered in a number of innovative was held on November 8th at the Farmers’ Market conservation development projects (including the Pavilion in Santa Fe’s Railyard Park. Ranchers and Verde Heritage Ranches) combining development, other private landowners, agency and non-profit ranching, and the protection of over 15,000 acres of representatives, members of the business community, wildlife habitat and scenic open space. Today, he and elected officials and hopefuls, and general supporters – his wife Katrina are back on the home ranch operating totaling approximately 175 guests at the peak – all came Beck Land & Cattle Company, which conducts out, many in boots and hats, to show their support for farming, ranching and conservation activities on three NMLC’s statewide land conservation efforts and to ranches in the Lake Valley area totaling 55,000 acres. honor this year’s recipient of the Jane Wing Petchesky Conservation Award. Opening remarks were made by The event included a live auction, showcasing a variety Hampton Sides, Santa Fe’s own local, award-winning of interesting items and unique local “experiences” and best-selling author of Blood and Thunder and several from around our beautiful state, donated by generous other notable works of historical non-fiction. supporters of our cause. Syd Masters and the Swing Riders capped off the night with their lively country This year, NMLC presented its conservation award western music, which inspired several rounds of to fourth-generation rancher and conservationist Jim dancing until we finally had to call it a night. Winder of the Lake Valley area of southwest New Me x ico. A s co - f ou nd er a nd pa st c h a i r m a n of t he Q u i v i r a We want to thank all who attended and helped make Coalition, former board member for the New Mexico this event a success, particularly our silent auction Chapter of The Nature Conservancy and former donors and sponsors. We hope to see you all again executive committee member for the Rio Grande next year when we plan to do it all over again at our Chapter of the Sierra Club, Jim has been involved with own Petchesky Conservation Center in Santa Fe on many collaborative conservation initiatives aimed at October 4, 2014. bringing diverse groups of stakeholders together to

The Jane Wing Petchesky Conservation Award is given annually by NMLC to an individual, organization or public agency for outstanding contributions to land or natural resource conservation in New Mexico. The award is given in honor of Jane Wing Petchesky (1921–2011), a long-time Santa Fe resident who was committed to open space preservation, water conservation, community service and philanthropy in support of these causes. In 2009, Jane donated her house and 282 acres of land to NMLC – renamed the Petchesky Conservation Center in her honor – which now serves both as the headquarters for our statewide operations as well as a community resource center. 21 PCC NATURE TRAIL & LAND RESTORATION

he biggest development at the T Petcheksy Conservation Center (PCC) this year was the completion of a one-mile loop nature trail, built with the generous support of a PNM 30th Anniversary Grant. The trail meanders through the piñon pines, junipers, yuccas and grama grasses of the Petchesky Ranch. With views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the northeast, the Jemez Mountains to the northwest, and the Ortiz and Sandias to the south, this trail offers visitors a taste of the wide open spaces of New Mexico. We were fortunate to work with Reineke worked hard to put the finishing touches on the trail by Construction on the layout and building of the trail, hand last fall. Our new trail is open to the public 9am- which was designed to minimize disturbance of the 5pm Monday through Friday. We hope to see you out landscape. Volunteers from the Trails Alliance of Santa here! Fe and neighbors from the community college district

WYSS FOUNDATION SCHOLARS RETREAT

n August, we were honored to host the annual I retreat for the Wyss Scholars Program at the Petchesky Conservation Center. A program of the Wyss Foundation, the program provides scholarships for graduate-level education to a future generation of land conservation leaders in the Intermountain West. Wyss Scholars learn the latest in conservation science and policy and then hopefully apply that knowledge in careers at land management agencies and nonprofit conservation groups. This year the retreat included students from Northern Arizona Un iversit y, the Un iversit y of M ich ig a n, the Un iversit y of Montana and Yale.

22 NMLC ACHIEVEMENTS 2012 2013 Conservation projects completed by year 4 5 Conservation easements completed since 2002 53 58 Acres conserved by year 14,287 12,581 Total acres conserved since 2002 114,997 127,577 Total square miles conserved since 2002 179 199 Value of CEs donated by landowners by year $ 2,268,000 $3,167,000 Total value of CEs donated by landowners since 2002 $35,877,465 $39,044,465 Public funds raised for CE and fee acquisition by year $ 0 $995,000 Total public funds raised for CE and fee acquisition since 2002 $ 5,992,935 $6,987,935

LAND TRUST ACCREDITATION

s an important part of the accreditation process, the To learn more about the accreditation program or to A Land Trust Accreditation Commission is inviting submit a comment, visit www.landtrustaccreditation. public input and will accept signed, written comments org. You can email your comment to info@ on NMLC’s pending application. Comments must landtrustaccreditation.org. Comments may also be specifically relate to how NMLC complies with the submitted to: Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices. For the Attn: Public Comments, 36 Phila St., Suite 2, Saratoga full list of standards see www.landtrustaccreditation. Springs, NY 12866; or faxed to 518-587-3183. Comments org/tips-and-tools/ indicator-practices. on NMLC’s application will be most useful by June 1, 2014. BOARD OF DIRECTORS - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Joseph R. Montoya, Chair, Santa Fe, NM Joseph is a native New Mexican with family roots in Mora and Santa Fe. He is currently Deputy Director of Programs at the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority. Previously, he served as Executive Director of the Albuquerque Civic Trust. Joseph’s background is in community planning and affordable housing. He holds a B.A. in University Studies and Architecture from the University of New Mexico.

Dale Armstrong, Treasurer, Albuquerque, NM Dale was born and raised on a ranch in Quemado, NM. Over the past three decades, he has grown TLC Plumbing & Utility from a one-man shop into one of the premier service companies in the state with over 300 employees. He and his wife Gail have four children, four grandchildren and operate a cattle ranch in Magdalena

Moo Thorpe, Secretary, Santa Fe, NM Moo, a native of Santa Fe, is a real estate broker with Sotheby’s International Realty. During her career, she has marketed and developed several successful communities in Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico. She and her husband Marc built an authentic adobe home where she lives with her two children and many pets. She holds a B.A. in Geography from Middlebury College in Vermont.

24 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Deanna Archuleta, Board Member, Albuquerque, NM Claudette Horn, Board Member, Albuquerque, NM Deanna owns a consulting firm specializing in government Claudette is an Environmental Manager at PNM Resources. outreach focusing on water and energy. She was formerly She has served on the United Way of Central New Mexico a Senior Advisor on Cultural & Historic Preservation Women in Philanthropy Council. Claudette holds a B.A. and also served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for in University Studies from the University of New Mexico. Water and Science in the U.S. Department of the Interior, where she oversaw the Bureau of Reclamation and the Geological Survey. Deanna earned a B.A. in Sociology & Communications from the University of Washington, an M.A. in Sociology from UNM, and is currently finishing her doctoral degree in Sociology at UNM.

Anthony L. (Tony) Benson, Past Chair & Founding Board John F. (Jack) McCarthy, Board Member, Santa Fe, NM Member, Taos, NM Jack McCarthy, a native of Taos, is an attorney practicing Tony is a retired geologist who serves as an Adjunct with the firm of Cuddy & McCarthy, LLP, in Santa Fe. He Professor at UNM-Taos and a member of the Board of is Past President of the New Mexico State Bar and the New Supervisors of the Taos Soil and Water Conservation Mexico Bar Foundation, and has extensive experience on District. He is also a Board member of the Taos Land Trust, the boards of non-profit organizations. He holds a Bachelor New Mexico Society for Range Management, New Mexico of Arts degree from St. Benedict’s College and a law degree Association of Conservation Districts, BLM Resource from the University of New Mexico. Advisory Council, and the New Mexico Geological Society Foundation. Tony earned his B.S., M.S. and PhD degrees in geology from Ohio State University.

Sayre Gerhart, Board Member, Corrales, NM Alan Overton, Board Member, Santa Fe, NM Sayre is an architect with Architectural Research Alan is a Senior Vice-President and Commercial Lender Consultants in Albuquerque who has been active in land- with Century Bank in Santa Fe. He has 30-years of use planning and land conservation issues for many years. commercial banking experience and has worked with She served as councilor and Mayor Pro Tem for the Village property owners in southwest Colorado on banking of Corrales, where she initiated, funded and implemented transactions involving conservation easements. Alan has projects focused on issues such as land use and preservation a B.A. in Business Administration & Finance from the of farmland and wildlife habitat. Sayre holds a B.A. from University of Houston. Princeton University and an M.A. in Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania.

Cullen Hallmark, Board Member, Santa Fe, NM Elizabeth H. Richardson, Founding Board Member, Los Angeles, CA Cullen is an attorney with the Santa Fe firm of Garber and Hallmark, P.C. He is an experienced cyclist, backpacker, Elizabeth worked for Colorado Open Lands, a statewide river runner, cross-country skier, and gardener. He has land trust, for ten years and served on the Board of the been a member of the Quivira Coalition for ten years, and Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts for twelve. She continues manages its Red Canyon Reserve in Socorro County. He to be actively involved in the land trust movement by holds a B.A. from St. John’s College and a J.D. from the volunteering for the Southern California Council of Land University of Texas. Trusts. Elizabeth holds a B.A. from Radcliffe College, a M.P.A. from University of Southern California, and an M.B.A. in Finance from University of Denver. 25 BOARD ADVISORS

Sid Goodloe, Board Advisor, Capitan, NM John B. (Jack) Wright, Former Chair & Board Advisor, Sid has been owner-operator of the Carrizo Valley Ranch Las Cruces, NM for more than five decades. He is a Board member of Jack has been professor of geography at New Mexico State the Quivira Coalition and of the New Mexico Cattle University in Las Cruces since 1990. He served on the Growers Association, a founding member of the New NMLC Board of Directors from 2002 through 2011 and Mexico Riparian Council and an international livestock was Chair for nine of those years. He has consulted in the consultant. Sid has a B. S. in Animal Science and a M.S. in land trust field for 30 years and has designed more than Range Science from Texas A & M University. 100 conservation easements in New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. Jacks has earned three degrees in geography: a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts, a M.A. from the University of Montana and a PhD from the University of California at Berkeley.

STAFF

J. Scott Wilber, Executive Director Scott has over 25 years of experience working in natural resource management, land conservation and community development throughout the Rocky Mountain West and Latin America. He joined NMLC in 2004 as Conservation Director and was named Executive Director in 2006. Previously, he worked for The Trust for Public Land, Colorado Open Lands, The Nature Conservancy, the Tropical Forest Foundation, and the U.S. Forest Service. He holds a B.S. in Forest Management from Northern Arizona University, and an M.A. in Geography and Latin American Studies from the University of New Mexico.

Beth Mills, Conservation Director Kris Murphey, Communications & Organizational Development Manager Beth previously worked as a senior planner for many years with Santa Fe County’s Open Space and Trails Program and Kris has worked for more than two decades in non-profit as a Land Use Planner/Project Manager with the Sonoran management, for organizations ranging from a non-profit Institute in southwestern Colorado. With a background news service to a university training center to a family in cultural geography, Beth is particularly interested in the foundation. She joined NMLC in 2007 as a part-time relationships between communities and their environment. office manager. Kris holds a B.A. in Linguistics from the Beth earned her PhD in Geography from the University of University of California at Berkeley. California, an M.A. in Geography from the University of New Mexico, and a B.A. in English from Wesleyan.

Lisa Adkins, Finance & Administration Manager Ariel Patashnik, Conservation Specialist, Earth Care AmeriCorps Cadre Lisa has more than 20 years of experience providing support in various areas of business and finance, and previously Ariel grew up in San Diego, lived for six years in Connecticut, worked for many years at the Los Alamos National and has been lucky enough to land internships and seasonal Laboratory. She earned a B.A. in Accounting and a M.B.A. jobs in Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, and now New from the College of Santa Fe. She has a passion for land Mexico. She earned her B.A. in Environmental Studies conservation, as her father was one of the first Hispanic from Yale University and her Masters in Environmental park superintendents for the National Park Service, and she Management from the Yale School of Forestry and spent her childhood visiting and living in national parks. Environmental Studies. 26 TRANSITIONS

was a year of staff and board changes at joined NMLC in 2007, originally as its office manager, 2013 NMLC… and over time took on a number of important roles at the organization, ranging from communications We started the year without a Conservation Director to organizational development. Perhaps, most because, after five years of dedicated service, importantly, in her final two years of service, Kris was Michael Scisco decided to move on to pursue new instrumental in moving our strategic planning forward opportunities in conservation consulting with Unique and helping us develop the prerequisite policies, Places Southwest based in Albuquerque. Coming procedures and systems to position us for applying to us in 2008 with a strong background in GIS and for professional accreditation. Kris has moved on to conservation easement stewardship, Michael became a new non-profit opportunity in northern California, a highly effective project manager who helped us working with at-risk youth, but continues to check in double our land protection efforts on the ground. He and cheerlead from a distance as we embark on the was also instrumental in helping us professionalize final stage of the accreditation process in 2014. our easement stewardship program, including baseline assessment, monitoring and legal defense. We are glad At the end of the year, we also welcomed three new that Michael has not left the state and continues to members to the NMLC board: Alan Overton, a support our statewide conservation planning and land senior vice-president with Century Bank in Santa Fe; protection efforts as a private consultant. Claudette Horn, an environmental manager at PNM Resources in Albuquerque; and Deanna Archuleta, an At the end of the year, we found ourselves saying environmental consultant in Albuquerque. (See board goodbye to another long-time employee, Kris Murphey, bios on p. 25 ). our Communications & Operations Manager. Kris FINANCIALS Statements of Financial Position - June 30, 2012 & 2013 Assets 2012 2013 Liabilities 2012 2013 Cash $160,732 $120,969 Accounts payable $14,648 $37,068 Promises to give $138,833 $52,850 Accrued expenses $8,892 $8,198 Prepaid expenses $5,107 $7,254 Line of Credit $100,000 $100,000 Land, building and equipment $1,364,311 $1,267,940 Current maturities of mortgage payable $5,381 $5,682 Stewardship fund $408,744 $442,672 Mortgage payable, less current maturities $220,193 $214,514 Deferred loan cost $5,682 $4,969 Total Assets $2,083,409 $1,896,654 Total liabilities $349,114 $365,462

Net Assets 2012 2013 Unrestricted Net Assets $1,588,862 $1,477,842 Temporarily Restricted Net Assets $145,433 $53,350 Permanently Restricted Net Assets $0 $0 Total Net Assets $ $1,400K 1,734,295 $1,531,192 Total Liabilities and Net Assets $2,083,409 $1,896,654

$1,200K $500K INCOME GROWTH STEWA R DSHIP $1,000K FUND $400K GROWTH $800K

$300K CASH NON-CASH $600K

$200K $400K

$100K $200K

$0 $0 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 YEAR YEAR Statement of Activities - 2012 & 2013 2012 2013 Unrestricted Temporarily TOTAL Unrestricted Temporarily TOTAL Unrestricted Unrestricted Support and Revenue Individual Contributions $158,656 $69,500 $228,156 $202,150 $46,600 $248,750 Business Donations $30,598 $30,598 $97,979 $97,979 Private Foundation Grants $45,089 $30,000 $75,089 $74,750 $180,750 $255,500 Land and In-kind Contributions $21,697 $21,697 $31,886 $31,886 Special Events $11,249 $11,249 $21,510 $21,510 Interest Income $2,296 $2,296 $2,404 $2,404 Other Income $4,618 $4,618 $14,065 $14,065 Net Assets Restriction Release $155,167 ($155,167) $0 $319,433 ($319,433) $0 Total Support and Revenue $429,370 ($55,667) $373,703 $764,177 ($92,083) $672,094

Expenses Program Services $474,568 $474,568 $643,825 $643,825 Management and General $86,349 $86,349 $87,850 $87,850 Fundraising $52,152 $52,152 $63,522 $63,522 Total Expenses $613,069 $613,069 $795,197 $795,197

Net Assets, Beginning of year $1,772,561 $201,100 $1,973,661 $1,588,862 $145,433 $1,734,295 Net Assets, End of year $1,588,862 $145,433 $1,734,295 $1,477,842 $53,350 $1,531,192 Change in Net Assets ($183,699) ($55,667) ($239,366) ($111,020) ($92,083) ($203,103)

SPECIAL OTHER FUNDRAISING EVENTS 2% 3% 8% MANAGEMENT REVENUE & GENERAL 11%

BUSINESS EXPENSES 15% INDIVIDUAL 42%

PROGRAM SERVICES FOUNDATIONS 81% 38% Source of financial data: FY2013 financial audit prepared by Barraclough & Associates, CPAs. Copies of NMLC’s annual financial audit reports and federal tax returns are available on our website: 29 www. nmlandconservancy.org DONORS

Pioneer ($25,000+) Sayre Gerhart Whittenberg Jim Keller Wayne Kirkby Winter Accountancy Group Element Power Land Trust Alliance Wild Birds Unlimited Moore Land & Cattle Co. Los Alamos National Bank New Cycle Foundation Meade and Robin Martin Steward ($100 - $499) Dan & Ashlyn Perry Jack and Kathy McCarthy Paul Abrams Kevin Sweazea Joseph Montoya Marsha Ahrenkiel Verde Heritage Ranch, LLC Allan Moorhead Navajo Engineering & Construction Chilton and Judith Anderson Authority Deanna Archuleta Leader ($10,000 - $24,999) New Mexico Community Foundation Roma Arrellano Albert I. Pierce Foundation Elizabeth Richardson Asa and Jean Barnes Henry Carey Marc and Maren Talbert Mary Beth Bigger Intermountain Conservation Trust Sallie Bingham McCune Charitable Trust Protector ($500 - $999) Joseph Bisagna New Mexico Tax Credit Alliance David Buchholtz John Barraclough PNM Resources Foundation Liliana Castillo Chama Peak Land Alliance Turner Foundation Patricia Clauser Edsal Chappelle A.T. and Cinda Cole Jack and Tuda Crews Mary Davis Benefactor ($5,000 - $9,999) Dekker, Perich,Sabatini Architects Tom Dominguez Lyle and Vera Dethlefsen Ducks Unlimited Marie Farding John R. Dupuy Hamilton Barksdale Brown Patrick Finley Joanna Hurley Anonymous Bridget Gavahan Werner and Helen Muller PNM Resources Tom and Jane Gillentine G. Stuart Patterson Carole and Joe Glade Pam Roy Guardian ($1,000 - $4,999) Sid and Cheryl Goodloe Allen and Maryanne Sanborn Dale and Gail Armstrong Christie Green Delia Scholes Anthony Benson Cullen Hallmark Michael Scisco and Neri Holguin Robert Berglund Peter Harris Ann and David Simon Andrew Brill Ted Harrison Virginia Smith Hamilton Brown Belinda Jentzen Sotheby’s International Realty Margaret Buckman Foundation Kurt Jorgensen Chip Chippeaux Jeff and Sandra Szabat Heather Karlson The Connable Office Kenneth Vellon Daniel Klein Funders’ Network for Smart Growth Robert Wilber and Linda Woody and Nandini Kuehn and Livable Communities, Inc. Margaret Kufer Virginia Mudd Simonson Elizabeth Dwyer Kimberly Macloud Nancy Levi Will Murphey Helene Taylor Barbara Lee Fall Deborah Madison Virginia Lierz Nancy Newell Pat Taylor Martha Anne Freeman Patricia McCulloch Don and Alice Liska Debra Normann Michael Walsworth Alison Fuhr James McGrath Morris Jack and Nancy Linda Osborne Jim Winder Reese and Ann Dave Mehlman Lockridge Melinne Owen Fullerton Drs. Philip and Karen Bonnie Loop Susan George Dianne Parker Friend ($1 - $99) Milstein Patrick Malone Sandra Postel Michele Hebert Elizabeth Monagle Charmay Allred Matthew McQueen Charles Probert Merritt Heifferich Louis and Mary Sadler Allan Beezley Carrie and Stephen Ann Ramenofsky Jeff Kline Bruce and Leslie Miller Charles Bonfanti Schmick Edward and Melanie Leon Kolankiewicz Josh Miner Ranney Rob Born Jennifer Kruger Leslie Schmick A. Paul and Genevieve Connie and Steve Larry Brown Charlotte La Tier Margaret Sears Mitchell Robinson Rachel Burnett Lucy Lippard Marja Springer Will Moir Joann Ruppert Brian Cooke Stephen and Nena Mary Tsiongas Daniel Montoya Kimberly Sanchez Sanja Degarmo MacDonald Jeremiah West Frances Mosle Dave and Gale Anita Dunmar Norman and Susan Renate Zinn MacLeod

FALL CELEBRATION OF LAND CONSERVATION EVENT Sponsors PNM Casa Benavidez Bed and Mostly Madrid, Madrid Quivira Breakfast, Taos REI Alphagraphics Elizabeth Richardson Cave Creek Ranch, Portal, AZ Rio Chama Steakhouse, Margaret Bost Floral Design Anonymous Conley Studio, Madrid Santa Fe Century Bank Michael Scisco and Cowgirl Red, Madrid Santa Fe Spirits Chama Peak Land Alliance Neri Holguin Curious Kumquat, Silver City Hampton Sides Dekker, Perich, Sabatini Sierra y Llano LLC William deBuys Gail Simonson Architects Dave Simon Early Street Antiques Step Back Inn, Aztec John Dupuy Sotheby’s International Estrella del Norte Winery, Nambe Taos Ski Valley New Mexico Tax Credit Realty Foundation Alliance Catherine and Allison Guynes Teahouse Restaurant, Santa Fe Taos CPA Sayre Gerhart Cullen Hallmark Ute Creek Cattle Company Wild Birds Unlimited Ranch, Bueyeros Hutton Broadcasting Indigo Gallery, Madrid Wild Birds Unlimited KSFR KGB Spirits Los Alamos National Bank Silent Auction Donors La Chiripada Winery, Embudo Valley Montosa Ranch/Dale & Gail Albuquerque Country Club Armstrong Mine Shaft Tavern, Madrid Bear Mountain Lodge, Navajo Enginnering & Silver City Gail and Ty Minton Construction Authority Martha Brown Montosa Ranch, Magdalena 31 Planned Giving to NMLC NMLC works to conserve land in perpetuity. You can help ensure that the legacy you leave enables us to continue preserving the land you love by making a “planned gift.” The term “Planned Giving” refers to ways that you can leave money or assets to NMLC through your estate planning, or invest your money so that you receive benefits during your lifetime and then bequeath the remaining funds to NMLC. It includes a variety of financial instruments that can be adapted to your specific needs and goals. There are many ways you can support NMLC without affecting your current financial goals or your family’s security. • You can make a gift that costs you nothing during your lifetime by designating NMLC as a beneficiary in your will or life insurance policy. • You can give assets from your retirement plan that might otherwise be subject to double-taxation. • You can take advantage of a gift of stock or appreciated assets and avoid incurring capital gains tax. • You can donate land or give an asset you no longer need or want and allow NMLC to convert it into cash to conserve high conservation value lands around the state. Please contact your financial advisors, and then call us at 505-986-3801 to discuss ways a charitable bequest or a significant gift during your lifetime can help ensure that New Mexico remains the Land of Enchantment for future generations to enjoy. Photo Courtesy of Mark Watson Planned Giving to NMLC

PO Box 6759 Santa Fe, New Mexico 87502-6759 Tel: 505.986.3801 Fax: 505.986.3806 [email protected] www.nmlandconservancy.org

Conserving Land. Preserving Heritage. 32